Judges 19 6

Judges 19:6 kjv

And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the damsel's father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart be merry.

Judges 19:6 nkjv

So they sat down, and the two of them ate and drank together. Then the young woman's father said to the man, "Please be content to stay all night, and let your heart be merry."

Judges 19:6 niv

So the two of them sat down to eat and drink together. Afterward the woman's father said, "Please stay tonight and enjoy yourself."

Judges 19:6 esv

So the two of them sat and ate and drank together. And the girl's father said to the man, "Be pleased to spend the night, and let your heart be merry."

Judges 19:6 nlt

So the two men sat down together and had something to eat and drink. Then the woman's father said, "Please stay another night and enjoy yourself."

Judges 19 verses

Judges 19 6 Meaning

Judges 19:6 describes the Levite and his concubine being offered further, insistent hospitality by her father, who urges them to extend their stay overnight for continued comfort and joyful fellowship. The verse highlights a conventional act of warmth and kindness, attempting to establish a sense of well-being and security amidst an unfolding, albeit currently tranquil, domestic scene.

Judges 19 6 Context

Judges 19:6 is situated within one of the Bible's darkest narratives, illustrating the profound moral decay in Israel during the period "when there was no king" (Jdg 17:6; 21:25). The preceding verses (Jdg 19:1-5) detail the Levite's journey to Bethlehem to retrieve his concubine and the initial attempts by her father to prolong their stay through abundant hospitality. This verse continues the pattern of insistent generosity. The father-in-law's fervent pleas for the Levite to remain for an additional night, specifically to "be merry," set a deceptively peaceful scene. This deep domestic hospitality starkly contrasts with the grotesque acts that occur later in Gibeah (Jdg 19:22-30), highlighting the shocking descent into barbarism from a semblance of civilized, if prolonged, conviviality. The context underscores the dangerous absence of divine or central human authority, leading to rampant "doing what was right in one's own eyes."

Judges 19 6 Word analysis

• But when they had eaten and drunk: (וַיְהִי, vayehi - and it was/now it happened; וַיֹּאכְלוּ, vayyokhelu - and they ate; וַיִּשְׁתּוּ, vayyishtu - and they drank). The Hebrew vayehi is a common narrative conjunction, linking the event to what immediately preceded it. "Ate and drank" signifies basic human need satisfaction and, in biblical contexts, often denotes the conclusion of a social meal and the state of comfort or repletion. This is typically a moment of peace and contentment.
• the father of the young woman: (אֲבִי הַנַּעֲרָה, avi hanna'arah). Refers to the Levite's father-in-law. His role as host and head of the household is emphasized. His persistent hospitality is central to this part of the narrative. In ancient Near Eastern culture, extended hospitality, particularly to family, was a deep-seated value.
• said to the man: (וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל־הָאִישׁ, vayyomer el-ha'ish). A direct address, showing the personal nature of the plea from the father-in-law to the Levite.
• 'Please stay overnight: (לוּן נָא הַלָּיְלָה, lun na hallaylah).
  • Lun: To lodge, to spend the night.
  • Na: A particle of entreaty, an urgent or polite request ("please," "I pray thee"). Its inclusion indicates a strong, almost pleading desire on the part of the father-in-law. This is the third time he suggests they stay (Jdg 19:4, 5, 6), revealing an increasing insistence.
  • Hallaylah: This night. Specific and immediate.
  This phrase demonstrates the father's continued efforts to delay their departure, stemming from what appears to be a genuine desire for fellowship and concern for their journey in unsafe times, or possibly even a subtle manipulation to keep them longer.
• and be merry.': (וְשַׂמַּח, v'samach from root שָׂמַח, samach).
  • Samach: To rejoice, to be glad, to make joyful. In Hebrew, this term goes beyond simple cheerfulness; it often implies festive feasting, a sense of celebration, enjoyment, and sometimes even the loosening effects of drink. It signifies a desire for them to feel utterly content and secure within his household.
  The ironic use of "merry" foreshadows the impending grim events, turning a phrase typically associated with happiness and well-being into a chilling prelude to suffering. This insistence on mirth ultimately heightens the tragedy of what follows.

• "But when they had eaten and drunk... Please stay overnight and be merry.": This phrase illustrates a progression from basic provision to insistent leisure and joy. It paints a picture of intense domestic bonding and celebration, yet in the Judges context, it takes on an almost desperate or perhaps even naïve quality, acting as a flimsy shield against the growing darkness outside the father's home. The emphasis on physical comfort and social enjoyment serves to postpone the inevitable journey and highlights the transient nature of security in an unstable period.
• "the father of the young woman said to the man, 'Please stay overnight and be merry.'": This group of words emphasizes the specific relationship dynamic – the elder relative (father-in-law) taking charge of the hospitality, directly and strongly appealing to the younger visitor (the Levite) not merely to lodge but to genuinely find rest and happiness within his care. This repeated plea reveals the father's strong, albeit ultimately insufficient, efforts to protect or provide for his guests, particularly as this desire for continued "merriment" stands in stark contrast to the horrific events that are about to unfold outside the warmth of his home.

Judges 19 6 Bonus section

The repetitive nature of the father's pleas to stay (Jdg 19:4, 5, 6, 8) underscores his insistence, which can be interpreted in several ways: a deep sense of paternal affection and concern for his daughter (the concubine), a genuine fear for the dangers of the journey in a period of societal lawlessness, or even a degree of controlling over-protectiveness. This insistent hospitality, though culturally admirable, also becomes a narrative device. It directly delays the Levite's departure, creating the exact circumstances that lead to the tragic events in Gibeah. Thus, the father's well-meaning actions, fueled by love and tradition, inadvertently set the stage for unimaginable depravity, functioning as a chilling example of how individual acts, good or ill, ripple outwards in a society bereft of guiding moral authority and true peace.

Judges 19 6 Commentary

Judges 19:6 is a pivotal verse, showing a heightened level of conventional Near Eastern hospitality. The father's repeated and urgent appeal for the Levite and his concubine to "stay overnight and be merry" reflects deep concern for their safety or a simple desire for prolonged family fellowship. The word "merry" (samach), signifying joy, feasting, and pleasure, aims to establish a complete sense of contentment and security for the travelers within his home. However, this benevolent invitation serves as tragic irony. The domestic peace and abundant hospitality portrayed in this verse contrast starkly with the unspeakable evil awaiting the travelers beyond the father's gate in the lawless land. It sets the stage for one of the Bible's most horrifying accounts, underscoring how true "merry-making" and peace were profoundly absent from Israel's heart, despite superficial attempts to create it. The desperate effort to cling to a fleeting moment of joy highlights the encroaching chaos when moral boundaries collapse.